priestman



No. 6l4,889. Patentd Nov. 29, I898 w. n. & js. PmEsTmAN & H. RICHARDSON.

IGNITER FUR HYDRUCABBURETED AIR ENGINES. (Application fllod Dec. 20, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

I'M/4n 504 76. \om 9 m w w" g P Z M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN, SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, AND HAROLD RICHARD- SON, OF HULL, ENGLAND.

lGNlTER FOR HYDROCARBURETED-AIR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0-. 614,889, dated November 29, 1898. Application filed DeoemberZO, 1897. Serial No. 662,680. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, of H01- derness Foundry, and HAROLD RICHARDSON, of 57 'Walmsley street, all of the town and county of Kingston-upon-Hull, England, subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented new and useful improved means applicable for use in igniting the working charge in hydrocarbureted air engines, (in respect whereof we have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 6,738, dated March 27, 1896, and in respect whereof We have applied for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 24,457, to bear date November 2, 1896,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor-engines operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapor mixed with air; and it consists in an improved method of andapparatus for igniting the working charge.

The accompanying drawings represent our improvements applied, by way of example, to a hydrocarbureted-air engine of the doublecylinder vertical type, Figure 1 being a side view, and Fig. 2 a face View, of so much of the engine as is necessary to illustrate the present invention.

In carrying out this invention a tube A, to the interior of which the inflammable charge has access, is arranged across the chimney B of a heating-lamp C. The tube A is open at one end to the motor-cylinder or combustionchamber D (a lamp and tube being provided for each cylinderin the case illustrated) and is provided at its opposite or outer end with an air-admission Valve D.

lVe have found that in order to insure the best effect the lower portion of the chimney which incloses the heating-tube should assume the form of a hollow truncated cone, having its larger diameter at the base. After diminishing in diameter for some distance above the heating-tube the chimney again expands and may finally terminate in a parallel portion, as shown at B. In this section is arranged a loose perforated baffle-plate b, the object being to retain the heat in the tube and so maintain it at a sufficiently high temperature. With the same object the upper extremity of the chimney is closed bya loose perforated cover 5, the released vapor from the igniting-tube entering during the compression stroke the upper portion of the chimney and being there consumed. Surrounding that portion of the conical part which incloses the heating-tube is a casing or wind-shield b arranged to rotate and provided with a hole about the level of the 60 heatingtube. The conical portion of the chimney is also formed with a hole at the same level, the two holes when brought opposite one another being so disposed and of such a size as to permit of the inclosed parts being readily cleaned.

In mounting the heating-tube in the motorcylinder or combustion-chamber and across the lamp-chimney we form the inner extremity of the said tube with a collar, which fits a recess in the face of a plug which is screwed into the cylinder, or a distance-piece may be introduced between the collar and the plug, as illustrated in the present design, the neck of the distance-piece being provided with a cock for controlling the passage of the Working charge to and from the heating-tube.

a is the collar upon the extremity of the heating-tube.

d is the plug for screwing to the cylinder, packing, consisting of layers of asbestos and iron, being employed to prevent the radiation of heat to the cylinder.

e is the distance-piece, fitted with a plug e. The side of the chimneyis formed with a flange b adapted for being bolted to the flange e or to the plug cl, as the case may be, thus securing the heating-tube in position gas-tight.

Portions of the chimney are furnished with asbestos linings to protect them from the ef- 9o fects of excessive heat. The movements of the valve D are controlled by suitably-timed mechanism, regulated in such a manner that a small portion of the charge is allowed to es cape while compression of the charge in the 5 cylinder is taking place or until the crank has arrived at or beyond the dead-center. While the air-valve remains open the charge is not ignited and preignition is guarded against, the vapor not being capable of ignition until arrested in its passage through the tube. So soon as the valve closes, however,

ignition and combustion ensue. The portion of the compressed charge allowed to escape also operates as a scavenging charge.

In the drawings annexed the valves D are opened and closed bymeans of a lever f, havin g its fulcrum at f, the lever being operated from a convenient moving part of the engine through the intervention of a connecting-rod, such as g, and arm g.

In order to regulate the timing of the valve or valves D, so as to render the ignition of the charge earlier 011Ll161,W8 provide adjusting-screws h and thumb-nuts h, the former lb of which screw through bosses f f on the lever f. By thus regulating the timing of the air-valve in starting premature ignition of the charge and reversal of the engine are avoided.

For the purpose of holding open the valve D of one of the igniters in a double-cylinder engine we provide a distance-piece or Wedge 2', same being conveniently connected to the engine by means of a chain 2'. At the time of starting the engine this Wedge is inserted between the lower extremity of the valvestem D of one of the air-valves and the upper extremity of the adjusting-screw h, pertaining thereto, its function being to hold the valve open until the piston has efiected a small portion of its stroke by reason of the compressed air which passes into the cylinder before the valve closes. The wedge becomes displaced almost immediately the piston moves, the valve. closes, and the charge is fired,whereby impulse is given to the piston.

By these means the set-screw h may be retained in its correct position for the next impulse stroke, Whereas if the wedge were not used and the set-screw h set for holding the valve open at starting the valve would remain open for a longer period than is desirable-2'. 6., too late in the following cycle of the piston.

That We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improved igniting device comprising a tube A, open at one end to the motor-cylinder or combustion-chamber and arranged across the chimneyB of the heating-lamp C, the portion of the said chimney inclosing the tube being formed as a truncated cone having its larger diameter below and its smaller diameter above the level of the said tube; the said portion of smaller diameter communicating with an expanded chamber B wherein is a perforated baiile-plate and whereon is fitted a perforated cover-plate, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a hydrocarbureted-air engine,the combination,with a motor-cylinder, of aheatingtube A, chimney B B, baffle-plate I), coverplate I), heating-lamp C, air-admission valve D, lever f and thumb-screws h h, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

XVILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN. SAMUEL PRIESTMAN. HAROLD RICHARDSON.

Vitnesses:

J. H. MANGER, EDWIN HOLMES. 

